2016-05042. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Upon Written Request Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-2736.

Extension:

Rule 17g-4; SEC File No. 270-566, OMB Control No. 3235-0627.

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (“PRA”), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) a request for approval of extension of the previously approved collection of information provided for in Rule 17g-4 (17 CFR 240.17g-4) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) (“Exchange Act”).

The Credit Rating Agency Reform Act of 2006 added a new section 15E, “Registration of Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations,” ^[1] to the Exchange Act. Pursuant to the authority granted under section 15E of the Exchange Act, the Commission adopted Rule 17g-4, which requires that a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures to prevent the misuse of material nonpublic information, including policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent: (a) The inappropriate dissemination of material nonpublic information obtained in connection with the performance of credit rating services; (b) a person within the NRSRO from trading on material nonpublic information; and (c) the inappropriate dissemination of a pending credit rating action.^[2]

There are 10 credit rating agencies registered with the Commission as NRSROs under section 15E of the Exchange Act, which have already established the policies and procedures required by Rule 17g-4. Based on staff experience, an NRSRO is estimated to spend an average of approximately 10 hours per year reviewing its policies and procedures regarding material nonpublic information and updating them (if necessary), resulting in an average industry-wide annual hour burden of approximately 100 hours.^[3]

The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

Background documentation for this information collection may be viewed at the following Web site: www.reginfo.gov. Comments should be directed to: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, or by sending an email to: [e-mail]; and (ii) Pamela Dyson, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi Pavlik-Simon, 100 F St. NE., Washington, DC 20549 or send an email to: [e-mail]. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice.

Dated: March 1, 2016.

Robert W. Errett,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78o-7.

2.  See 17 CFR 240.17g-4; Release No. 34-55231 (Feb. 2, 2007), 72 FR 6378 (Feb. 9, 2007); Release No. 34-55857 (June 5, 2007), 72 FR 33564 (June 18, 2007).

3.  10 currently registered NRSROs × 10 hours = 100 hours.